Question

How do oxides of nitrogen enter the atmosphere?

Answer 1

Hint :The oxides of nitrogen are a mixture of gases that contain nitrogen and oxygen. The oxides present in the atmosphere in significant amounts are nitric oxide $ (NO) $ and nitrogen dioxide $ (N{O_2}) $ and nitrous oxide $ ({N_2}O) $ . Other two oxides of nitrogen are nitrogen trioxide $ (N{O_3}) $ and nitrogen pentoxide $ ({N_2}{O_5}) $ .

Complete Step By Step Answer:
When fuels are burned in furnaces, the temperature increases. At high temperatures, oxygen and nitrogen present in the air combine and form the oxides of nitrogen. Oxides of nitrogen are produced during the burning of fuel in an internal combustion engine and these formed oxides enter the atmosphere in the form of exhaust gases. During thunderstorms, nitric oxide is formed in the reaction of atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen in the presence of electric discharge. This nitric oxide further reacts with ozone and atmospheric oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide is a highly reactive gas. Nitrogen dioxide gets in the air mainly from the burning of fuel. It forms from emissions from trucks, cars and buses and power plants.

Note :
The oxides of nitrogen interact with water, oxygen and some other chemicals in the atmosphere to form acid rain. This acid rain harms the ecosystem such as lakes and forests. The nitrate particles resulting from these oxides make the air hazy and difficult to see. The oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere contribute to nutrient pollution in coastal waters. Breathing air which is rich in nitrogen dioxide can irritate airways in the human respiratory system.